Nation wide trip to raise cancer funds

Bathurst will be visited by Tail End Charlie, a tractor travelling across Australia, in August, in order to raise funds and awareness for Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia and Breast Cancer Network Australia.

Tail End Charlie is expected to arrive in Bathurst, from Dubbo, on August 9 and will spend the night in the city.

The tractor will leave the morning of August 10 and will journey to Goulburn via Crookwell.

Starting in Wundowie, Western Australia on July 7 for the 60th Anniversary Run, Tail End Charlie will traverse the country, finishing back in WA at the National Ballooning Championships in Northam, east of Perth, on September 2.

Elders Real Estate has come on board, announcing its partnership with Tail End Charlie.

Elders chief executive officer Mark Allison said that the sponsorship aligns to Elders’ priorities of supporting the local communities in which the business operates.

“Our clients are the lifeline of our business, so it is always our focus to assist them in whatever capacity we can – whether that be in the sales yards, the paddock, the office or through local community initiatives,” he said.

Tail End Charlie rally event manager Ron Bywaters says the most important aspect of the event is raising awareness for prostate and breast cancer.

“Early detection is the key to winning the battle against these forms of cancer,” he said.

“We need to spread the word within rural communities about just how important it is for both men and women to have regular screening.”

Tail End Charlie’s story originates from the Mobilgas Round Australia Rally in 1957 where Mr Bywaters, a fresh-faced 22-year-old sales cadet, was set the challenge of building a crew to enter a 1955 Chamberlain Tractor as a sweep vehicle.

Although not qualifying for the race as a competitor, the tractor was allowed to participate as support to the race vehicles and managed to finish in 19 days.

Donations and sponsorship are still being accepted for this year’s event.